While receiving on Monday the new U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania Anne Hall, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius noted the excellent bilateral relations between the two states and emphasized the importance of the transatlantic relationship and the need to continue to strengthen the US leadership in Europe.
“There is no doubt that the relationship with the United States is of strategic importance for Lithuania”, said the Prime Minister. – We are grateful to the U.S. Government for its contribution in ensuring security in Lithuania and the whole region”.
The Head of the Government noted that over the last years Lithuania has recorded some major achievements, such as doubling its defence spending to 1.79 per cent of GDP in 2017, presence of NATO forces, liquefied gas terminal, power links with Poland and Sweden, growth of direct foreign investment and implementation of the new social model.
“The bilateral relations between our countries are very strong, productive and mutually beneficial”, stated the U.S. Ambassador while appreciating Lithuania’s decisions to increase defence expenditure.
The Head of the Government also asked for U.S. support for Lithuania’s accession to the OECD.
Anne Hall is the fourteenth ambassador of the United States of America to Lithuania since the establishment of U.S.-Lithuanian diplomatic relations on 28 July 1922. Ambassador Anne Hall arrived in Lithuania on 29 September when the U.S. Embassy celebrated the 25th anniversary of its opening. The Embassy of the United States of America in Vilnius was opened on 2 October 1991.
Ambassador Anne Hall has already served in Lithuania. From 2010 to 2013 she served as a Deputy Chief of Mission in the U.S. Embassy in Lithuania, later also acting as Chargé d’Affaires.